Uncertainties in the $0\nu\beta\beta$--decay nuclear matrix elements

Abstract

The nuclear matrix elements $M^{0\nu}$ of the neutrinoless double beta decay ($0\nu\beta\beta$) of most nuclei with known $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay rates are systematically evaluated using the Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA) and Renormalized QRPA (RQRPA). The experimental $2\nu\beta\beta$-decay rate is used to adjust the most relevant parameter, the strength of the particle-particle interaction. With such procedure the $M^{0\nu}$ values become essentially independent on single-particle basis size, the axial vector quenching factor, etc. Theoretical arguments in favor of the adopted way of determining the interaction parameters are presented. It is suggested that most of the spread among the published $M^{0\nu}$'s can be ascribed to the choices of implicit and explicit parameters, inherent to the QRPA method.